In 1961, Kwame Nkrumah said: ”Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world. I believe strongly and sincerely that with the deep-rooted wisdom and dignity, the innate respect for human lives, the intense humanity that is our heritage, the African race, united under one federal government, will emerge not as just another world bloc to flaunt its wealth and strength, but as a great power whose greatness is indestructible because it is built not on fear, envy and suspicion, nor won at the expense of others, but founded on hope, trust, friendship and directed to the good of all mankind.“
And in 2000 Colonel Gadaffi of Libya, perhaps inspired by Nkrumah, but for selfish reasons, put forward a proposal of far-reaching consequences. He wanted full political and economic integration that would lead to the United States of Africa. A preposterous ideal to begin with! But African leaders attending the AU summit in Accra, Ghana, in July 2007 decided to devote their time to a “Grand Debate on the Union Government”. The Committee of Seven, headed by Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, recommended that work towards forming the “United States of Africa” was needed.
In 2006, under the chairmanship of Olusegun Obasanjo, the Committee of Seven undertook a ”Study on An African Union Government: Towards the United States of Africa”, and its findings were presented to an extraordinary session held in November 2006 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study found that, “all Member States accept the United States of Africa as a common and desirable goal (but) differences exist over the modalities and timeframe for achieving this goal and the appropriate pace of integration”. Obasanjo advocated taking 15 continental institutions created under the AU and transforming them into the 55th state in Africa, by 2015.
In principle South Africa appears to have embraced the idea of the continent moving towards full political and economic integration. Thabo Mbeki was president of South Africa when the AU passed this absurd resolution to form the United States of Africa and proposed the gradual strengthening of regions and AU institutions including executive, judicial, financial and technical institutions.
Mbeki, when delivering the inaugural lecture on May 27 2010 at the Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute, further reiterated the above view when he said: “The objective to achieve the unity of our Continent, perhaps as a federation or confederation of states, will take time to achieve. However this does not mean that Africa cannot speak with one voice on matters of common interest. Of critical importance in this regard is that we should do everything possible to strengthen both the regional organisations, the Regional Economic Communities, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Ecowas, and the African Union and its institutions, including the Pan-African Parliament and others.”
Museveni has also supported the idea of regional integration. He has said, “you cannot have a country without a common language — indigenous or borrowed. USA uses English; India uses English, their own huge linguistic groups (Hindu, Gujarat, Tami and Bengali) notwithstanding; Soviet Union used Russian and Brazil used Portuguese. Economic integration does not demand the same degree of cohesion as political integration. A federated East Africa could eventually be a very cohesive part of Africa, using Kiswahili enriched by Bantu and Nilotic/Cushitic dialects. Such a cohesive African state would become the strategic backbone of the African peoples.”
His areas of concern include trade negotiations with foreign countries, dealing with the desert (the environment) and inter-state security issues as well as the fact that adherence to common political principles or standards of good governance varies significantly from state to state. These are important considerations that should not be ignored by proponents of a single government for Africa. How do you integrate South Africa with Somalia?
It does provide some measure of comfort that SADC, when meeting in 2007, adopted a common and sober position in the way forward towards a unified and integrated continent in response to the resolution of the AU.
“Our countries throughout Africa do not have the same level of development and it will take some time before we have the proper infrastructure in place to make that integration which we all agree upon possible,” said Lazarous Kapambwe of Zambia, who was part of the SADC deliberations on regional and continental integration. The argument for regional integration is a valid argument if it is for the purpose of stimulating trade among member countries and boosting the economic growth and development of the region. It however becomes nonsensical if the ultimate aim is to speedily move towards the formation of the United States of Africa.
For SADC the establishment of the Southern African Customs Union, and abolishment of the need for visas among countries such as South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique already was progress towards regional integration. In 2008 SADC managed to achieve an important milestone by launching, at its summit held in Sandton, Johannesburg, the SADC Free Trade Area. Mbeki then as chairperson of SADC, said: “It seems unavoidable that we must reaffirm the importance of regional integration for at least two reasons. Firstly, none of us will be able to assure political and social stability, security and economic development in our countries if the region as a whole continues to grapple with underdevelopment, instability, poverty and marginalisation. Regional economic cooperation and integration offer us the opportunity to pool our limited resources and build an economic base to address the challenges of economic growth and development. Secondly, regional economic integration can create the basis for regional markets and industries to overcome the limits of small national markets, to achieve economies of scale and enhance competitiveness as a platform to participate more effectively in the world economy.”
Jacob Zuma, on occasion of his keynote address to British parliamentarians at the Palace of Westminster in London on March 4 2010, said: “We need to foster regional integration, as a first step to continental integration. Africans must trade with each other, share skills with each other, access each other’s markets, and invest in each other’s economies.”
Zuma was further reiterating the position of the region in line with the resolutions of the AU. But it is of great concern when he then appears to be publicly advancing the common position of the region while privately canoodling with Gadaffi ahead of the AU summit planned for late July in Kampala, Uganda. On July 20 2010 he visited Libya to discuss the “coordination of positions regarding the agenda of the AU summit in Kampala,” according to Libyan sources. It is somewhat disturbing that a South African president would see the need to travel all the way to Libya to meet with Gadaffi for “coordination of positions” ahead of the AU summit.
Libya’s position in respect of continental issues is unequivocal. What is also unambiguous is Gadaffi’s employment of chequebook diplomacy in furthering his own narcissistic interests, as aptly demonstrated by the farcical gathering, in 2008, of 200 African kings and traditional rulers who bestowed on him the title “king of kings”. Gadaffi during his “coronation” implored those royal stooges to advance his campaign for the creation of a single government for Africa. He said: “We want an African military to defend Africa, we want a single African currency, we want one African passport to travel within Africa.”
So, this impromptu visit by Zuma to Libya arouses much suspicion and concern, especially against the backdrop of allegations contained in the controversial Browse Mole report that he was bankrolled by Gadaffi to topple Mbeki, who for a number of years was considered an obstacle to Gadaffi’s continental ambitions. And the fact that countries like Burkina Faso and Togo, which have benefited from Gadaffi’s financial largesse, have been vehemently supporting his preposterous idea of the United States of Africa. Common logic would dictate that a South African president would “coordinate positions” with his regional counterparts not Gadaffi.
What appears more preposterous is the statement by Zuma’s spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, that: “This visit is more concerned about strengthening the organs of the AU and how to speed up the process of regional integration.” Does South Africa consult with Libya on its regional matters? We can wish and hope that the region is not being sold for “30 pieces of silver”.
The pursuit of regional and continental integration is a noble pursuit necessary for the development of Africa and reversing the losses of colonialism and unbridled kleptomania. Liberalisation of trade among African economies, promotion of investments and good governance as well as the establishment of industries, among other things, should be the driving force behind these pursuits. Gadaffi and his wet dream of a single African government can “sommer” wait.
Interesting piece. It will appear Gaddaffi has mapped out his African chess game, and will soon be able to march through the African chessboard with no hindrance. Chair of SADC must call a caucus before AU summit
Sentletse wake up and smell the coffee. Every country in the region has bilateral and multi-lateral agreements with other countries in the world irrespective of geographic position. Countries like Lesotho and Swaziland get budget allocations from countries in the European Union and the USA. Surely bilateral agreements between countries will always override regional integration sentiments. The last time I checked Zuma was not the sole decision maker in the ANC and the government, it baffles me how is he now supposed to sell the region to Gadaffi. I think you’re deliberately over estimating the authority South Africa has in the region, for obvious political reasons. Can Zuma sell Zimbabwe and Angola to Gadaffi? Hate the man as much as you like but make it sound respectable.
Yes I agree, we should take it step-by-step, a united Afrika is a better prospect of a future outlook.
I agree 100% that “Liberalisation of trade among African economies, promotion of investments and good governance as well as the establishment of industries, among other things, should be the driving force behind these pursuits.” Africa could be the greatest continent on Earth, if it were not for economics. It is critical that very high transport costs, trade barriers, red tape, expensive costs to open a business, and the need to pay bribes and kickbacks to just about everybody, plus the dignity of Africans having title deeds to their own land become a reality. Once this happens, Africa can unlock the great wealth that is sitting untapped (or getting tapped offshore by both foreigners and its own leaders). This will be the African vision for the future.
I agree 100% that “Liberalisation of trade among African economies, promotion of investments and good governance as well as the establishment of industries, among other things, should be the driving force behind these pursuits.” Africa could be the greatest continent on Earth, if it were not for economics. It is critical that we eliminate very high transport costs, trade barriers, red tape, expensive costs to open a business, and the need to pay bribes and kickbacks to just about everybody, plus the dignity of Africans having title deeds to their own land becomes a reality. Once this happens, Africa can unlock the great wealth that is sitting untapped (or getting tapped offshore by both foreigners and its own leaders). This will be the African vision for the future.
I am tired of hearing Blacks always blaming others for their lack of progress in this world; I am tired of the whining and victim-mentality. I am tired of listening to the same complaint, day in day out – racism this, racism that. It’s getting us nowhere.” “Africans have a stance, ‘live for today, let tomorrow take care of itself and be damned’ attitude,” the author says. “We’ve become a sheep-like consumer race that depends on other communities for our culture, language, feeding, and clothing. We’ve become economic slaves in Western society.” The argument that Blacks must become economically self-reliant and foster collective partnering relationships is not new.
“Continental Africans think the world owes them something. We whine and whine about how the Europeans looted our natural resources. Yes, they did, so what? We allowed them to do it, and we are still allowing them to do it even today. There is too much whining among Africans, Blacks, continental Africans and Africans in the Diaspora – whine, whine, whine ad nauseam. We are beggars. We beg for everything. (page 35).
Capitalist Nigger: “The Road to Success, a Spider-Web Doctrine”, Dr Chika Onyeani
@Mark, you can’t unlock the wealth of Africa until you take the chains off the people. If one look all over Africa the people are in chains and most of the countries are failed states. A small group of people have seized control of the countries and the countries are being robbed one by one. The AU is a joke because most of these people are illegal leaders who are attending this meeting on AU.
Very interesting piece. About regional integration, the role of African countries in each other’s destabilization leaves me wondering of the true intentions of all actors. See http://www.grandslacs.net/doc/2343.pdf (pp 21-22).
The United State of Africa is pie in the sky. The Europeans cannot even get it right.
@Mark Robertson
Agree. But this is where a lot of the problems lie. It is cheaper to export stuff to China/Japan than to move goods around between SADC countries. Until we start fixing these things along the lines suggested any United States of Africa is just a pipe dream.
well what do you expect when, half the country would sooner see every foreignness run out of the country than trade with them. That’s where you problem lies
Ja Sentletse, I’m with Sipho. Honestly.
And I don’t recall the AU resolution you’re referring to that setout the creation of a USA. As i understand it, the AU programmes promoting development/nepad through regionalism, increased intra-trade architecture etc do so within the ambit of the commission structures without contravening national sovereignty.
The AU summit in Kampala is a watershed moment for the Africa. Maybe that should be your focus.
Ha ha ha, put together 50 failed states and expect the superstate work!
This can only end in tears.
African leaders and opinion shapers would do the continent a favor if they spent time and money to find a formula to achieve lasting African democracy before tackling the elephant known as the United States of Africa. Charity begins at home. If Malawians cannot get along with Malawians and their leaders are inept, what chances are there that they will get along with Zambians and more than fifty other national enclaves? Let us dream but do so within limits.
OAU. The Organisation of Africa Unity. What African Unity?? There never has been and there never will be any unity and the same applies to SADC as they too are toothless tigers. If Gadaffi gives the keys to the money bin to the ANC and ZANUPF we can expect an overwhelming acceptance of The United States of Africa by Southern Africa, but the clash and scrambling to loot the bin will be a soapie to watch, every day, with great anticipation as to who can get the most of the loot. Gadaffi may have aspirations of God ship but he is definitely not stupid.. Perhaps as Gadaffi has recommended with his rubber stamp for piracy, Somalia can be turned into the Caribbean of the Indian Ocean and Black Beard and Captain Jack Sparrow will have safe haven. When can any of use remember one good politician? It is a contradiction in terms and there is simply no such thing. USA, what USA except The United States of America??
Can’t say the latest SACU meeting seemed to be heading in this direction.
If our over-production of maize this year is causing falling prices, why isn’t that maize feeding the hungry all over Africa? The demand is there…
Sometimes we don’t get even the simplest things right. And I’m also very much with Sipho. God gave us butts to get off, not just to sit on.
I don’t think that most africa states today are actual proper states. Perhaps the first step should be for africans to define african states and do away with the failed state colonial borders.
The reason for failed states is that africans living in them have no pride in them. We should scrap south africa, moz, zim, nambia, etc and have a states for the zulus, xhosa, sotho, swazi, shangaan, ndebele, shona, etc as it was before the colonialists created the present borders. Then we should unite those states by region and then by sub-shara africa. The meditereanian countries have more in common with themselves than they do with africa.
but to call the DRC a country or state is a delusion.
The above is based on the premise that it is harder to steal from your own culture than it is to steal from other cultures. So have 1 culture states and corruption will decrease.
The germans don’t trust the french and vice versa. Yet we have in many african states tried to make the ‘germans’ and the ‘french’ live together in harmony and we wonder why african states fail.